In ever larger numbers each year, many of those with serious mental
illnesses end up in the criminal justice system. In this class we
will explore the clinical and legal aspects of law and psychiatry as
a way to understand both why this phenomenon happens and how the
legal system deals with these individuals. We begin by looking at
the symptoms of and treatments for major mental illnesses. We next
examine civil commitment laws, followed by the laws of criminal
competency, insanity, and execution of those with diminished
capacity. In our last section, we will look at the legal
ramifications of psychiatric disorders that are not as “flagrant” as–
yet no less debilitating than–the most severe disorders.
Readings:
Jamison, Kay Redfield, An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and
Madness. New York: Vintage Books, 1995.
Steele, Ken and Claire Berman, The Day the Voices Stopped: A Memoir
of Madness and Hope. New York: Basic Books, 2001.
Suzanne O’Malley, Are You There Alone? The Unspeakable Crime of
Andrea Yates. New York: Simon and Shuster, 2003.
Reprints (from IU Custom Publishing):
Soble, Ron and Johnson, John H. Blood Brothers: The Inside Story
of the Menendez Murders. Onyx (True Crime), February 1994.
Thornton, Hazel. Hung Jury: The Diary of a Menendez Juror. Temple
University Press.
Class meeting: Monday, 2:30-5:00
Distribution credit: S & H
Class will satisfy: Intensive writing requirement
Instructor: Rodney Deaton, criminal justice department